Characteristics of Patients Who Elect Full Resuscitation Status During Enrollment in the Medicare Hospice Benefit in Two Large Nonprofit Hospices: A Retrospective Review (TH371B)

Abstract

(4 were excluded because of missing data) identified 1,466 medication decisions (mean¼15.3 decisions per discharge summary) of which 441 (30%) were to continue medications without changes, 103 (7%) were to continue medications but with changes, 458 (31%) were to start new medications, and 464 (32%) were to discontinue existing medications. Among medications that were initiated or changed, morphine was the most frequent new medication (7%) and aspirin was the most frequently discontinued medication (5%). Only 38% of medication changes had a documented rationale for the change. Conclusion. Medication changes are common on discharge to hospice and frequently lack documentation of the rationale for these changes.